Aglaonema plant named ‘KKAG1201’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aglaonema  cultivar named ‘KKAG1201’ is disclosed, characterized by strong growth, cream and pink colored foliage with green dots. The new variety is a  Aglaonema , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Aglaonema hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘KKAG1201’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a new cultivar of Aglaonema hybrid. The newvariety is the product of a planned breeding program. The new varietyoriginated as a seedling from the open pollination of unnamed,unpatented, Aglaonema hybrids, bulk collecting seed and planting theresults. The open pollination resulting in the bulk collected seed wasorganized by the inventor in a research greenhouse in Bangkok, Thailandin 2003.

The new variety was first selected by the inventor, KanchanaKhemakongkanond, a citizen of Thailand, in 2004, in a researchgreenhouse in Bangkok, Thailand. After identifying the new variety as apotentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidentialtesting and propagation of ‘KKAG1201’, assessing stability of the uniquecharacteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KKAG1201’ was first performedat a commercial laboratory in Chonburi, Thailand by tissue culture inJanuary of 2009. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants werekept in a greenhouse not open to the public, and tissue cultureplantlets were in a laboratory not accessible to the public. Throughsubsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple generations havebeen reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KKAG1201’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KKAG1201.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KKAG1201’ as a new and distinct Aglaonemacultivar:

-   -   1. Strong growth habit.    -   2. Unique cream, green and pink foliage.

PARENT COMPARISON

Parent varieties are unknown, as seed was bulk collected.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘KKAG1201’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to theunpatented commercial variety Aglaonema ‘KK9004’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. The new variety, however, produces foliage that is pinkand cream with green dots, whereas ‘KK9004’ produces foliage that iswhite with green dots. Additionally, the new variety produces widerleaves than ‘KK9004’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘KKAG1201’ grown in a commercial greenhouse inHonslersijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 8 months old,shown planted in an 12 cm container. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘KKAG1201’ plants grown in a greenhouse inHonslerdijk, the Netherlands. Temperatures ranged between 18° C. to 20°C. at night and 20° C. to 22° C. during the day. No photoperiodic orchemical treatments were given to the plants Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrid ‘KKAG1201’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Side shoot cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: About 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Moderately dense, moderately thick, non-fibrous,    fleshy, not free-branched, color near RHS Greyed-Orange 164C.-   Time to produce rooted plantlet: Approximately 10 weeks at    approximately 19° to 23° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Broad upright.-   Plant shape: Ovate.-   Height: Approximately 29.5 cm to top of highest leaf.-   Plant spread: Approximately 28.3 cm in a 12 cm circular pot.-   Normal pot size: 12 cm pot.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Stem:    -   -   Diameter.—7 mm.        -   Length.—5.0 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS 146A.        -   Texture.—Smooth, moderately glossy.-   Branching characteristics: Basal clumping (branching), no lateral    branches.-   Number of clumps of leaves: 2.-   Number of leaves per clump: Average 10.-   Number of leaves per plant: Approximately 20.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 months.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Irregular spiral.        -   Average length (excluding petiole).—Approximately 14.2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 8.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Aspect.—Leaves upright to slightly outward.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Rounded to short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS 51B, tinged near            RHS 150D towards the base, dotted throughout near RHS 144B,            144C and 139A. Margin also colored near 144B, 144C and 139A.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Red 49A, Base near 49D            dotted and margin colored near RHS N137A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS 161B, tinged near RHS 49C towards the            tip, moderately dotted and margin coloration near RHS N137A,            139A and 143A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS            Greyed-Yellow 160C and 161C, moderately dotted and margin            coloration near RHS 137A and N137A.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation coloration upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.        -   Venation coloration under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.-   Sheath:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 5.9 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.        -   Texture.—Smooth, moderately glossy.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 9.7 cm.        -   Width.—At distal end: Approximately 0.3 cm. Above clump:            Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Geniculum: No geniculum visible.

FLOWERING CHARACTERISTICS

-   Flowers not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the    normal diseases found in Aglaonema has been observed.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Tender, indoor plant    susceptible to cold and drought.-   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plantnamed ‘KKAG1201’ as herein illustrated and described.